One of the oldest universities in Europe, and the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
Scholars had started to gather at Oxford in the early part of the 12th century - lectures are believed to have taken place in 1117. Many English scholars settled here after their expulsion from the University of Paris. As various religious orders settled in Oxford in the middle of the 13th century, they established and maintained houses for students - the basis for some of the colleges. Merton College (1264) was founded by
Walter de Merton (later Bishop of Rochester), who was educated at Merton Priory, Surrey c. 1230.
Merton College was the first secular college to be founded: its scholars were prevented from entering
any religious order. Rules for college life were formed at Merton, and became the model for many
colleges both at Oxford and at Cambridge.
The University now has 36 colleges, each with its own internal structure and activities. However, the university itself conducts examinations and confers degrees. The passing of two examinations is a prerequisite for a first degree: the first, called honor moderations or a preliminary examination, is usually held after the first or second year; and the second, the Honour school, is held at the end of the undergraduate course.
(From "Oxford, University of," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.)
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